Defying the Odds(23)
Clay obviously agreed, because she saw him throw up his hands in triumph. He sat there, gunning the gas for a few minutes before he hopped out of her truck, his breath misty white underneath the headlights. He walked around to the passenger seat and crawled into the car, sitting next to Melody, who’d been pumping the gas pedal while he worked on her truck.
“Okay, you’re gonna drive my car back to your place, and I’ll follow you in the truck,” he announced as he pulled the door closed.
Melody frowned. “Why am I gonna drive your car?”
“’Cause I don’t trust the truck,” he said, giving her a look. “And it’s fucking cold as hell in that piece of shit. We’re getting the battery replaced and the heat fixed tomorrow.”
“Clay—”
“I ain’t arguing ’bout it,” Clay said in a gruff voice. “We’re getting it done, and I don’t give a shit if your pride’s smarting over it.”
Melody huffed but kept her mouth shut. She didn’t want to argue with him, not tonight, when she was going to forget every bad thing that ever happened to her and just let this handsome, wonderful man make her feel good.
Her body was humming with yearning and anticipation. She didn’t know why everything seemed to click with Clay when she shouldn’t click with anyone, but she wasn’t going to question good fortune. If whatever compatibility that naturally blossomed between them allowed her to let down her guard and enjoy really being a woman, then she was going to seize the moment before life showed up and ruined it.
He reached out, squeezing her hand in his, his fingers icy. “I’m gonna follow you.”
Melody nodded her acceptance and reached down, trying to put the seat up, because Clay was so tall she could barely touch the pedals. She felt underneath the seat, finding nothing helpful. “This car’s too fancy for me.”
“There’s a button.”
“I don’t see no button, Clay.”
“It’s there.”
“Why can’t they just put a darn lever like every other car?”
Clay laughed and then leaned over, his large body draping across hers as he reached down to do it for her. He found the magic button easily, and the seat started to move up on its own accord. When she was close enough to the steering wheel, he bent lower over her lap and kissed her thigh through her thick stockings.
Her breath caught as she looked down at him, that one simple action causing a pulse of pleasure to zing through her body. He caressed her bare upper thigh, pushing her apron and skirt higher up, and then lifted his gaze to hers. Her pussy throbbed to the rhythm of her rapid heartbeat, begging for attention, and it must have been obvious. His dark eyes were sultry, telling Melody he knew without feeling that she was wet and aching for him.
Clay licked his lips slowly, the action looking like a promise with his seductive gaze still holding her captive.
Melody actually squirmed in her seat.
“Let’s get outta here.” Clay sat up once more, leaving Melody feeling bereft. “Or I’m gonna put my mouth on you right here. I’ve been fantasizing ’bout tasting you since Thanksgiving.”
Melody’s eyebrows rose at his boldness. He just blurted out whatever sexual thoughts came to mind, and she found herself really liking the habit. But she couldn’t help but admit, “I haven’t… I mean, no one’s ever, you know…done that…to me.”
At first Clay’s eyes flashed angrily, as if the admission really pissed him off. But just as quickly his gaze softened, and he reached out to cup her face. “You know what?”
She bit her lip, her cheeks hot. “What?”
“Good.” His thumb swept over her bottom lip, his dark eyes studying her face, making her feel as if all her secrets were laid bare to him. “I wanna be your first.”
“Well, you ain’t gonna be my first,” she warned him. “Unfortunately.”
“First that counts,” he amended, giving her a smile. “And you’ll be mine too. It’ll be a first for both of us.”
“Yeah?” she asked, unable to help returning his smile.
“Oh yeah.” Clay pulled away, looking like the action was hurting him. He opened the door without saying good-bye. “Drive careful. I’ll be behind ya.”
The roads were icy. Melody didn’t have a choice but to drive slow and careful, especially when she was driving a car she wasn’t used to. There was an insistent throb between her legs that made her want to stomp her foot on the gas, but she behaved. She even drove a few miles under the speed limit while constantly checking to see if the headlights to her truck were still reflecting in the rearview mirror.